University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, February 9
Asheville, NC
7:00 p.m.
UNC Asheville
(19-7, 11-2BSC)
104
vs
101
Winthrop
(18-6, 10-3BSC)
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
F
WINTHROP
35
42
13
11
101
Asheville
34
43
13
14
104
Photo by: UNC Asheville
Instant Classic: Bulldogs Collect Thrilling Double Overtime Home Win Over Winthrop
02.09.2017 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In a game that everyone in attendance and also that watched on national television on ESPNU and listened to on News Radio 570 WWNC will never forget the UNC Asheville men's basketball team picked up a thrilling 104-101 double overtime win over Winthrop before a crowd of 2,732 at Kimmel Arena.
In a contest that was tied 13 times and saw 17 lead changes, Winthrop (18-6, 10-3 Big South Conference) took a 35-34 lead over UNC Asheville (19-7, 11-2 Big South Conference) into the halftime break.
The Eagles looked as if they might take control of the game in the opening minutes of the second half as they led the Bulldogs, 47-40, with 15:48 left in regulation, but after a fast break dunk by junior guard Raekwon Miller Asheville had tied things back up at 50-50.
The two teams would play tight for the next few minutes, but the Eagles would own a 67-61 lead with 4:01 left in regulation. Once again the Bulldogs would not be deterred though, scoring the next six points to again tie things up at 67-67 after a thunderous fast break dunk by junior guard Ahmad Thomas with 2:10 remaining in regulation.
It would remain close the rest of regulation with Winthrop looking as if they would take the win up 77-74 with six seconds left.
UNC Asheville freshman guard MaCio Teague had other ideas though as he nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime tied at 77-all.
In the first overtime, UNC Asheville took an early four-point advantage with 4:14 left in the extra stanza, but with 30 seconds left after a three-pointer by Winthrop senior guard Keon Johnson the Eagles held a two-point lead at 90-88.
Once again, the Bulldogs would not be denied with Thomas tipping in a Teague miss with seconds left to send the game into the second overtime tied at 90-all.
The Bulldogs would start the second overtime much in the same way as they did the first extra period with Asheville up by six at 98-92 with just over two minutes left.
Johnson would hit another big three-pointer with 33 seconds left to give the Eagles a 101-99 lead, but the Bulldogs would close the game on a 5-0 run to collect the thrilling win.
One of the most important plays in a game that featured numerous big plays came during the final seconds of the contest as after connecting on a three-point play on the offensive end to give the Bulldogs a 102-101 lead with 23 seconds left, Teague then on the defensive end blocked a Johnson three-point attempt that was rebounded by Miller, who then hit the ensuing two free throws in the 104-101 Bulldog win.
Five Bulldogs finished in double figures in the win with two in Thomas and senior forward Will Weeks acquiring double-doubles.
Thomas ended his evening with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Weeks had 14 points and a career-best 12 rebounds and a career-high-tying six assists along with three steals and one block.
Asheville junior guard Kevin Vannatta closed out his evening just short of a double-double with 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Senior guard David Robertson had 14 points, two rebounds and one steal in the Bulldog win.
Teague once again showed why he is one of the best freshmen and really best players in the Big South Conference by finishing his night with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and the one pivotal block. Teague was a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line in the game.
Johnson led four Eagles in double figures with a career-best 40 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
As a team, Asheville finished its win shooting 48.6 percent (34-of-70). The Bulldogs were an impressive 84.4 percent (27-of-32) from the free throw line.
Winthrop closed out its loss to the Bulldogs shooting 55.2 percent (37-of-67) as a team.
BULLDOG BITES
A LOOK AT THE LEAGUE: UNC Asheville's win over Winthrop allowed the Bulldogs to remain tied with Liberty (16-10, 11-2 Big South Conference) for the top spot in the Big South Conference. The Flames also played a double overtime game on Thursday with Liberty besting Gardner-Webb, 92-87.
HOME SWEET HOME: UNC Asheville is currently in the midst of a seven-game home winning streak. The Bulldogs are 11-1 on the year at home. UNC Asheville after the win over Winthrop is now 66-16 all-time at Kimmel Arena, including 46-10 in Big South Conference contests.
STREAKING: With the win over Winthrop, UNC Asheville is now in the midst of a six-game winning streak. The six-game winning streak is the third five or more game winning streak of the year for the Bulldogs.
HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS: Senior forward Will Weeks picked up seven of his 12 rebounds in the win over Winthrop on the offensive glass. As a team, Asheville collected 15 offensive rebounds with Thomas corralling four of his 10 boards on the offensive glass.
QUOTABLES
"It was an incredible performance by both teams in front of a raucous home crowd on national television. I have to say thank you to the students and the community members that showed up and really contributed to a great college basketball environment. I think anybody that paid to get in tonight got their money's worth." – Head Coach Nick McDevitt
UP NEXT
UNC Asheville will travel to Longwood to face off against the Lancers in a Big South Conference battle at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11.
In a contest that was tied 13 times and saw 17 lead changes, Winthrop (18-6, 10-3 Big South Conference) took a 35-34 lead over UNC Asheville (19-7, 11-2 Big South Conference) into the halftime break.
The Eagles looked as if they might take control of the game in the opening minutes of the second half as they led the Bulldogs, 47-40, with 15:48 left in regulation, but after a fast break dunk by junior guard Raekwon Miller Asheville had tied things back up at 50-50.
The two teams would play tight for the next few minutes, but the Eagles would own a 67-61 lead with 4:01 left in regulation. Once again the Bulldogs would not be deterred though, scoring the next six points to again tie things up at 67-67 after a thunderous fast break dunk by junior guard Ahmad Thomas with 2:10 remaining in regulation.
It would remain close the rest of regulation with Winthrop looking as if they would take the win up 77-74 with six seconds left.
UNC Asheville freshman guard MaCio Teague had other ideas though as he nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime tied at 77-all.
In the first overtime, UNC Asheville took an early four-point advantage with 4:14 left in the extra stanza, but with 30 seconds left after a three-pointer by Winthrop senior guard Keon Johnson the Eagles held a two-point lead at 90-88.
Once again, the Bulldogs would not be denied with Thomas tipping in a Teague miss with seconds left to send the game into the second overtime tied at 90-all.
The Bulldogs would start the second overtime much in the same way as they did the first extra period with Asheville up by six at 98-92 with just over two minutes left.
Johnson would hit another big three-pointer with 33 seconds left to give the Eagles a 101-99 lead, but the Bulldogs would close the game on a 5-0 run to collect the thrilling win.
One of the most important plays in a game that featured numerous big plays came during the final seconds of the contest as after connecting on a three-point play on the offensive end to give the Bulldogs a 102-101 lead with 23 seconds left, Teague then on the defensive end blocked a Johnson three-point attempt that was rebounded by Miller, who then hit the ensuing two free throws in the 104-101 Bulldog win.
Five Bulldogs finished in double figures in the win with two in Thomas and senior forward Will Weeks acquiring double-doubles.
Thomas ended his evening with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Weeks had 14 points and a career-best 12 rebounds and a career-high-tying six assists along with three steals and one block.
Asheville junior guard Kevin Vannatta closed out his evening just short of a double-double with 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Senior guard David Robertson had 14 points, two rebounds and one steal in the Bulldog win.
Teague once again showed why he is one of the best freshmen and really best players in the Big South Conference by finishing his night with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and the one pivotal block. Teague was a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line in the game.
Johnson led four Eagles in double figures with a career-best 40 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
As a team, Asheville finished its win shooting 48.6 percent (34-of-70). The Bulldogs were an impressive 84.4 percent (27-of-32) from the free throw line.
Winthrop closed out its loss to the Bulldogs shooting 55.2 percent (37-of-67) as a team.
BULLDOG BITES
A LOOK AT THE LEAGUE: UNC Asheville's win over Winthrop allowed the Bulldogs to remain tied with Liberty (16-10, 11-2 Big South Conference) for the top spot in the Big South Conference. The Flames also played a double overtime game on Thursday with Liberty besting Gardner-Webb, 92-87.
HOME SWEET HOME: UNC Asheville is currently in the midst of a seven-game home winning streak. The Bulldogs are 11-1 on the year at home. UNC Asheville after the win over Winthrop is now 66-16 all-time at Kimmel Arena, including 46-10 in Big South Conference contests.
STREAKING: With the win over Winthrop, UNC Asheville is now in the midst of a six-game winning streak. The six-game winning streak is the third five or more game winning streak of the year for the Bulldogs.
HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS: Senior forward Will Weeks picked up seven of his 12 rebounds in the win over Winthrop on the offensive glass. As a team, Asheville collected 15 offensive rebounds with Thomas corralling four of his 10 boards on the offensive glass.
QUOTABLES
"It was an incredible performance by both teams in front of a raucous home crowd on national television. I have to say thank you to the students and the community members that showed up and really contributed to a great college basketball environment. I think anybody that paid to get in tonight got their money's worth." – Head Coach Nick McDevitt
UP NEXT
UNC Asheville will travel to Longwood to face off against the Lancers in a Big South Conference battle at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Team Stats
WINTHROP
AVL
FG%
.552
.486
3FG%
.424
.391
FT%
.765
.844
RB
28
43
TO
20
17
STL
11
13
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
24
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
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F
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